Because of Rebecca(4)

“Would you like to dance?” he asked, handing her a glass cup.

“That would be delightful.” She drank the punch, discarding the empty cup on a nearby table.

A waltz played and he offered her his hand. Ever aware of the sweet scent of her perfume, Jared pulled her as close to his body as proper. “I didn’t realize you were a widow, Mrs. Davis,” he said. “Forgive me for not extending my condolences earlier and for not addressing you properly. You should have corrected Mr. Calhoun.”

“Thank you. But I prefer to be called Miss Davis. I’m n-” she began, looking up at him. She didn’t know how to rectify his misinterpretation of why she’d been in mourning. Perhaps it will be easier to explain Lucas if I don’t correct him. But no, that wouldn’t be right. She must correct him.

“I’m n-” she tried again, but he cut her off.

“I’m a widower myself. Three years now.”

“Yo-you are?” Rebecca noticed the sorrow and pain behind his blue eyes. Is that how one looks when they’ve lost their true love?

“Then it is I who am sorry for bringing up painful memories, Mr. Hollingsworth.” She smiled, dipping and swaying around the room with his lead.

Jared shook his head. “Life goes on. We cannot dwell in the past. I’ve learned that the hard way. I’ve lived as a recluse for far too long.”

Before she could speak, the dance ended and a young man swept her away before the next reel began. Several dances and partners later, she finally returned to Mr. Hollingsworth’s arms.

“Having a good time?” he asked.

“Yes,” she replied, relaxing in his gentle hold as they waltzed once more.

Soon the music ended and they made their way to the refreshment table for more punch and a sampling of the wedding cake.

“Hollingsworth, good to see you,” a balding gentleman said, breaking line to refill his cup of punch. “How are things out your way?”

“Well, thank you,” Mr. Hollingsworth replied. “And yours?”

“Couldn’t be better for this time of the season though we can always use a little rain,” the man said, nodding his head in her direction. “I don’t believe we’ve met, miss?”

“Forgive my manners. George Wimple, this is Mrs. I mean Miss Rebecca Davis. She’s a close friend of the bride. Miss Davis, this is Mr. Wimple. He owns a plantation near mine.”

“It’s a pleasure, Mr. Wimple.” Rebecca greeted him with a slight curtsy and a smile.

“Same here and I hope you find Jackson to your liking. Couldn’t be a better place to live,” he said, taking a plate of cake and beginning to munch. “Though, I sometimes wonder if there is a place safe to live. A person’s property can be taken so easily. Have you heard what happened over in Macon?”

“No, I can’t say that I have,” Mr. Hollingsworth said, shifting his weight from one foot to the next. He glanced at her and smiled, though he didn’t appear pleased by the conversation.

“One of the slaves disappeared in broad daylight. She was working one minute and the next she was gone.” The man snapped his fingers for emphasis to what he said and Rebecca felt her stomach knot.

“Mercy,” she murmured, wondering if Mr. Wimple spoke of Ruth’s disappearance or another. The Vigilante Committee had several branches and she was only privy to her mission. She hoped this disappearance would not make her task of seeing Ruth safely out of Mississippi more difficult.

“Exactly, my dear,” Mr. Wimple said with a nod. “I hope they find her and find her soon and she is dealt the strictest of punishments. We don’t need word spreading amongst the plantations and causing others to attempt running off.”

The knot in her stomach tightened a notch or two. “So you think she ran off?”

“Aye, I do.” Wimple finished his refreshment and discarded the plate, refilling his cup for one last gulp of punch. He nodded at them both before sauntering away.

“He’s a lively chap,” Mr. Hollingsworth said, offering her his arm. “Shall we go find the bride and groom?”

“Let’s do,” she said, allowing him to lead once more as they danced their way over to the newlyweds.

Rebecca admired her friend and her husband as he held her close in his arms. They looked lost in a world of their own, despite their dancing in the middle of a crowded room. They made a striking pair, with her fair coloring and his dark features.

Elizabeth looked their way as they approached.

“Rebecca, can I steal Mr. Hollingsworth away for a dance?” she asked when the music stopped for a moment.

“Of course,” Rebecca replied, stepping out of his grasp.

“Allow me.” Mr. Cooper offered her his hand in return.

As she danced with the groom, she found herself watching Mr. Hollingsworth instead of paying attention to her partner. She admired Mr. Hollingsworth’s profile and then his back, amazed how the cloth of his clothes stretched and relaxed over his solid form as he moved. Realizing she’d been staring at him, she chastised herself and lost her footing, stepping on Mr. Cooper’s boot.

“Oh dear! Clumsy me,” she exclaimed apologetically. “I’m so sorry.”

“Wool gathering will do that,” Mr. Cooper replied. Her cheeks burned and he chuckled, dancing them closer to Elizabeth and Mr. Hollingsworth before smoothly changing partners.

“Oh my!” Rebecca gasped with delight, finding herself once again in Mr. Hollingsworth’s strong arms.

“Couldn’t be without your bride that long, Mitchell?” Mr. Hollingsworth asked.

“Neither would you if you were just married,” Mr. Cooper said, giving a wink.

The two men laughed, while Elizabeth glowed.

“By the way, Jared, would you mind seeing Miss Davis back into town? We’re going to be pressed for time getting away to catch our train,” Mr. Cooper asked.

“It will be my pleasure to see Miss Davis to town.”

“Excellent,” Elizabeth stated as the music died away. “Rebecca, be a dear and come upstairs with me while I change into my traveling suit?” Then she placed a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Darling, I promise not to be long.”

“If you’ll excuse us,” Rebecca said to the men before following her friend away from the party.

Once they were upstairs, Elizabeth closed her bedroom door and leaned against it. She placed her left hand, now graced with her wedding ring, over her chest. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven!”

Unable to keep from laughing, Rebecca fell down on the bed, lying on her back and recalled the many evenings they’d spent talking into the wee hours at Augusta. A twinge of sadness pricked at her heart and she realized she missed those carefree days very much.

“Does getting married make you feel that celestial?”

Elizabeth nodded and pushed herself away from the door. “It’s so glorious to be in love. To have someone whisper the unthinkable in your ear and promise you’ll feel splendor in his arms.”

“Elizabeth!” Rebecca exclaimed, sitting up and pushing herself off the bed before she wrinkled her dress. “Come, let me undo your gown or else your husband will come impatiently looking for you.”

“Don’t act so innocent with me, my friend. I saw how you looked at Mr. Hollingsworth while you were dancing. From where I stood it looked like he did the same thing,” she teased, stepping out of the heavy satin dress. She quickly donned the sturdy linen traveling suit with Tilda’s help, changed pearls for a locket on a chain and put on her hat. Standing back, she looked at herself in the floor-length mirror.

“Well, do I look all grown up?”

Rebecca laughed, carefully laying the wedding gown across the bed. “I wager you’ll be asking me if you look different when you return from your wedding tour in a few weeks.”

“I hope so. I’ll be a woman that has been repeatedly made love to by her husband.”

Rebecca covered her cheeks with her hands. Elizabeth’s words had unthinkable thoughts about Mr. Hollingsworth running through her head. “I shouldn’t be hearing this.”

Her friend laughed, applying a drop of fresh perfume behind her ears.

“Come, let’s go back down so you and Mr. Hollingsworth can travel behind our carriage into town,” she urged. “Tilda, please bring down Miss Davis’ bag from the guest room.”

A few minutes later, the two friends descended the staircase to find an array of guests waiting below. Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun and Elizabeth’s three sisters and brother were at the front of the crowd. Near the door waited Mr. Cooper and Mr. Hollingsworth. While the bride bid farewell to her family and friends, Rebecca joined the gentlemen before they boarded the carriages.

Mr. Hollingsworth offered her his arm and escorted her outside. His touch had the strangest effect on her. A warmth like she had never felt before flowed through her and she again wondered what it would feel like to have him kiss her or whisper his desire into her ear. Rebecca already knew it felt heavenly to be held in his arms while dancing.